![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-29-at-12.50.53.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBe honest\u2014how many times have you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Liked something without really reading it<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shared something because it \u201cfelt right.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Seen the same post so many times that it just seemed true <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This is not random. This is not just \u201cpeople being dumb.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is how social media is designed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And once you see it, you cannot unsee it… Trust!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This post is designed for college students and young adults who regularly use platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat is actually happening to you online<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social media platforms are not neutral. They are powered by algorithms optimized for engagement<\/strong>, meaning their job is to keep you scrolling, liking, and interacting as long as possible! One important step is to investigate the source<\/a><\/strong> of what you are seeing, rather than accepting it at face value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The more you interact with something, the more you see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-29-at-12.53.16.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOver time, this creates a feedback loop where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- You see similar ideas<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Those ideas feel familiar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Familiar starts to feel true<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This is where misinformation starts to take hold\u2014not because you are careless, but because the system is working exactly as designed. In this course, we learned that digital platforms are not neutral spaces\u2014they are designed systems that shape how information is distributed, repeated, and interpreted by users. This means what you see online is not a random reflection of reality\u2014it is a curated experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is not just a theory. Internal research from companies like Meta has shown that these platforms are aware of how their systems affect users.<\/a> In fact, internal findings revealed that Instagram could negatively impact mental health for some teenage users, showing how engagement-driven design can have real psychological effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nYour brain is wired for this: Confirmation Bias<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
One of the biggest reasons misinformation spreads is something called confirmation bias<\/strong>.<\/a> In our course, this is understood as a cognitive bias\u2014one of the mental shortcuts (heuristics) people use to process information quickly, especially in fast-paced digital environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This means you are more likely to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Believe information that matches what you already think<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ignore or question information that challenges you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
On social media, this shows up constantly. This is amplified online because platforms reward engagement, not accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you already believe something\u2014even slightly\u2014you are more likely to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Like posts that agree with it<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Watch those videos longer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Engage with similar content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-29-at-12.41.13-1024x555.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- IMAGE Number 2: <\/strong>This visualization illustrates cognitive processing through mental shortcuts, where confirmation bias<\/em> influences how individuals interpret and reinforce information that aligns with existing beliefs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
And guess what happens next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The platform gives you more of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So it starts to feel like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u201cEveryone is saying this\u2026 so it must be true.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
But really, you are just seeing more of what you already leaned toward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nRepetition = Truth (even when it is not)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This is called the illusory truth effect<\/strong>.<\/a> In our course, this concept is explained as a cognitive processing effect, where repeated exposure increases familiarity, and familiarity is often mistaken for truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is what that means in simple terms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
The more times you are exposed to something, the more true it feels.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Not because it is accurate\u2014but truly because it is familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think about viral posts, trending sounds, or repeated claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if you were unsure at first, after seeing it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Once<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Twice<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ten times<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It starts to feel normal. Expected. True.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, a widely shared image claimed that The New York Times supported bullying unvaccinated children\u2014but fact-checking revealed the image was digitally altered<\/a><\/strong> and not real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is why misinformation spreads so fast\u2014it does not need to be correct, it just needs to be repeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- IMAGES 3 & 4 Below Express:<\/strong> Both of these show the same idea\u2014when we see something over and over, it starts to feel true, even if it is not. That is the illusory truth effect<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-29-at-12.45.41-1024x575.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-29-at-12.46.23-1024x510.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nYou are not seeing \u201ceverything\u201d \u2014 you are in an Echo Chamber<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Another major factor is something called echo chambers<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This happens when you are mostly exposed to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-30-at-12.07.56-1024x1007.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- People who think like you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Content that supports your views<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Ideas that are not challenged<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of algorithmic feeds<\/strong>, your social media is personalized to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research shows that people do not receive information from a single source, but through multiple overlapping \u201ccurated flows,\u201d<\/a> where algorithms, social networks, and personal choices all shape what content is seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Two people can search the same topic<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- See completely different \u201crealities.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nInside an echo chamber:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Your beliefs are constantly reinforced<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Opposing views are filtered out<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Misinformation becomes harder to recognize<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It does not feel like bias. It feels like the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSo what is the actual problem?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The issue is not just misinformation itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The issue is how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Confirmation Bias<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Illusory Truth Effect<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Echo Chambers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Algorithmic Feeds<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
ALL work together!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research from our course materials supports this.<\/a> A large-scale study found that even small changes in what people are exposed to online can influence what they continue to engage with over time. As exposure increases, people are more likely to seek out similar content, reinforcing their existing beliefs and shaping how they interpret information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n
This YouTube video shows<\/a> how algorithms learn from your behavior and continuously recommend similar content, reinforcing what you see and making certain ideas feel more true over time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-29-at-12.57.24-1024x567.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThis creates a system where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- False information spreads easily<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Repeated ideas feel true<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Your beliefs get reinforced without you realizing it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
And the most important part?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You think you are thinking for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These systems are designed to prioritize content that keeps people engaged,<\/a> even if that content is misleading or emotionally charged. This means that what spreads the fastest is not always what is most accurate\u2014but what gets the strongest reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nPause and check yourself (seriously)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Take a second and ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- When was the last time I checked a source before sharing?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Do I ever see content that challenges my beliefs?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Am I liking things because they are true\u2014or because they feel right?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This is where awareness starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This approach is supported by strategies such as the\u00a0SIFT method<\/strong>, which emphasizes pausing to verify<\/span> sources before accepting or sharing information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat can you actually do about it<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You do not need to become a fact-checking expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You just need to SLOW DOWN your automatic reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Pause before liking or sharing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ask \u201cWhere did this come from?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Use strategies like the SIFT method<\/a><\/strong> to quickly evaluate information<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Be aware that what you see is curated\u2014not neutral<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-29-at-12.59.34-884x1024.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEven small changes CAN break the cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOnce you see it\u2026 It changes everything<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Misinformation is powerful not because people are unintelligent, but because it is built on how humans naturally think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social media just amplifies it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now you know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Why things feel true<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Why do you keep seeing the same ideas<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How does your own behavior play a role<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
And that awareness alone puts you ahead of most people scrolling right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat This Helps You Do<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
After reading this, you should be able to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Recognize when familiarity is influencing what feels true<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Notice how algorithms are shaping what you see<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pause before engaging with content automatically<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Apply simple strategies like the SIFT method to evaluate information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAbout This Project<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Target Audience:<\/strong>
Young adults and college students who actively use platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X, and regularly engage with content through scrolling, liking, and sharing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Geographic Scope:<\/strong>
While misinformation is a global issue, this project focuses on social media use in the United States, where algorithm-driven platforms heavily shape information exposure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Why This Format:<\/strong>
A blog-style format was chosen because it allows complex ideas to be broken into smaller, easy-to-follow sections using visuals and real-world examples. This mirrors how the target audience already consumes content, making the message more engaging and easier to understand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Purpose:<\/strong>
This project is designed to help readers understand how misinformation works on both a psychological and algorithmic level, so they can become more aware of their own behavior online.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSources \/ Learn More<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Course Materials (ASU)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
These modules build the core concepts used throughout this post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Module 4: Evaluating Sources & Digital Literacy (SIFT Method, verification skills)<\/strong>
https:\/\/canvas.asu.edu\/courses\/241400\/pages\/module-4-learning-materials<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n- Module 5: Misinformation, Algorithms, and Media Systems<\/strong>
https:\/\/canvas.asu.edu\/courses\/241400\/pages\/module-5-learning-materials<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n- Module 7: Digital Media, Influence, and Information Environments<\/strong>
https:\/\/canvas.asu.edu\/courses\/241400\/pages\/module-7-learning-materials<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nResearch & Real-World Sources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
These sources provide real-world evidence of how misinformation spreads and how platforms shape what you see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- How algorithms shape what you see online<\/strong>
https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/tech\/personal-tech\/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n- How social media platforms handle misinformation<\/strong>
https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/02\/14\/technology\/disinformation-moderation-social-media.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n- Why platforms should not be trusted to shape information flow<\/strong>
https:\/\/blogs.lse.ac.uk\/medialse\/2021\/10\/12\/its-time-to-stop-trusting-facebook-to-engineer-our-social-world\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n- Research on how online media exposure shapes beliefs<\/strong>
https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.1073\/pnas.2013464118<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n- Example of fact-checking misinformation in practice<\/strong>
https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/factcheck-new-york-times-altered-article\/fact-check-image-purporting-to-show-new-york-times-opinion-piece-calling-for-teachers-to-tolerate-bullying-towards-unvaccinated-children-is-digitally-altered-idUSL1N2T81UK\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n- How students can evaluate information like fact-checkers<\/strong>
https:\/\/www.chronicle.com\/article\/students-fall-for-misinformation-online-is-teaching-them-to-read-like-fact-checkers-the-solution\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
The goal is not to stop using social media\u2014it is to stop letting it think for you.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
You do not need to be perfect online.
You just need to be more intentional.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Question what you see.
And remember\u2014what feels true is not always what is true.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Before you keep scrolling\u2026 pause for a second Be honest\u2014how many times have you: This is not random. This is not just \u201cpeople being dumb.\u201d This is how social media is designed. And once you see it, you cannot unsee it… Trust! This post is designed for college students and young adults who regularly use […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=60"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74,"href":"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60\/revisions\/74"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=60"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=60"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jakedesousa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=60"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- How social media platforms handle misinformation<\/strong>
- Module 5: Misinformation, Algorithms, and Media Systems<\/strong>
- Geographic Scope:<\/strong>
- Target Audience:<\/strong>
- Be aware that what you see is curated\u2014not neutral<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Illusory Truth Effect<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Confirmation Bias<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ideas that are not challenged<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Content that supports your views<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- People who think like you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- IMAGES 3 & 4 Below Express:<\/strong> Both of these show the same idea\u2014when we see something over and over, it starts to feel true, even if it is not. That is the illusory truth effect<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- IMAGE Number 2: <\/strong>This visualization illustrates cognitive processing through mental shortcuts, where confirmation bias<\/em> influences how individuals interpret and reinforce information that aligns with existing beliefs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n